(2015 ☆ ARCHIVED) Slovak C1 Team - Slovakia

SLOVAK C1 TEAM (Slovakia) - Nominee for the Sportsman of the Year award.

Born: 11/03/1983 (Slafkovsky), 18/05/1979 (Martikan), 02/11/1987 (Benus), Represents: Slovakia, Sport(s): Canoe Slalom C1M

Major Results:

• 2015: C1M teams world champions, C1M teams European champions and C1M teams World Cup 3 champion
• 2009 - 2015: winning six straight C1M team World Championships
• European Championships C1M teams champions – 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015

A perfect combination of technique, strength and precision, Slovakian trio Matej Benus, Michal Martikan and Alexander Slafkovsky are the ultimate C1M dream team.

As the commentators so perfectly described at the recent ICF canoe slalom World Championships in London, the team are the rolemodel "of how it is done.”

Benus, Martikan and Slafkovsky looked super smooth as they completed each gate and weaved seamlessly down the course in unison at Lee Valley, producing the only clean run in  the field to win their six straight C1M team World Championship gold medal.

A remarkable achievement which dates back to their first victory at La Seu D’Urgell in 2009.

In addition to their world domination, they have added a further five European Championship titles with victory in Krakow twice, Bratislava, Augsburg and most recently Markkleeberg in 2015.

While they won a further C1M teams gold medal at the third World Cup in Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia this year.

Standout paddlers in their own right, all three athletes have featured on the C1M World Championship podium in the past decade, with Martikan a two-time Olympic champion.

With such a formidable combination it is difficult to imagine who will stop the Slovakian C1M team in the coming years.

This is a 2015 archived nominee. Voting has closed.